For America
written by: Jack Buck
On September 17, 2001, less than a week after the country was shook by the 9/11 terrorist attacks, St. Louis Cardinals broadcaster Jack Buck recited a heartfelt poem to the crowd at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri. Titled For America, Buck read the emotional poem to open the game, which was the first since the attacks.
“Since this nation was founded under
God, more than 200 years ago,
We’ve been the bastion of
Freedom…
The light which keeps the free world
Aglow.
We do not covet the possessions of
Others, we are blessed with the
Bounty we share.
We have rushed to help other
Nations… anything… anytime…
Anywhere.
War is just not our nature… we
Won’t start, but we will end the fight.
If we are involved we shall be
Resolved to protect what we know is
Right.
We’ve been challenged by a
Cowardly foe, who strikes and then
Hides from our view.
With one voice we say there’s no
Choice today, there is only one
Thing to do.
Everyone is saying the same thing
And praying that we end these
Senseless moments we are living.
As our fathers did before, we shall
Win this unwanted war.
And our children will enjoy the
Future, we’ll be giving.”
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